Matter Matters

The resurrection says something very unique about matter, that is, the physical world around us.

Now, typically, there are two extremes when it comes to how we view matter. On the one side of the spectrum is an atheistic, materialistic view that says there is only matter. Ironically, this demeans matter because there is no higher meaning to matter. Categories like truth and beauty are nonsensical in a purely material world. But this perspective doesn’t quite seem to make sense of the world we experience. It seems like there is more to this world than just atoms. There are such immaterial things as majesty and beauty. So then we turn to religion and philosophy.

On the other side of the spectrum, many religions and philosophies recognize this higher order (beauty and truth). However, it leads them to disdain the physical. Plato believed behind every marred physical object of this world was an ideal, or in other words, an idea version of that thing which is pure. And many religions seek to put off the body and look forward to the day when we will be free from it completely. But that end of the spectrum doesn’t quite sit right either because we sure feel like physical beings, and earth kind of feels like home. There is something in you that knows you were meant wonder at the stars and lay in the grass and soak up the sun.

Enter the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus says something remarkable. It says our physical existence matters. Matter matters. By having a physical body restored to Jesus, God reaffirmed that creation was good, while also confirming that right now it is broken. So in the resurrection, we have forgiveness, justification, and spiritual life, AND we have physical healing and remaking.

And indeed we read of this connection between the resurrection of Jesus and the restoration of all of the physical universe in the scriptures. The Apostle Paul writes in the Book of Romans, “[18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [19] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. [23] And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:18-23). So the death hold on creation is also broken. And when we are physically redeemed so shall this world be redeemed and remade.

There is nothing better than lying in a hammock on a sunny spring day in East Tennessee. The next time you find yourself in such a spot I want you to remember that Christ is risen and that means God has not given up on earth. There will be a new earth for us to enjoy with God, as we were created to do. Gaze at that blue sky through green leaves and remember because Christ is risen, you can be sure God is remaking you, and he is remaking this earth.